Kabaddi: an ancient game of India

Kabaddi! Kabaddi! Kabaddi! And the chanting continues till you win or lose.

Sure enough everyone of us had a chance to play this super hit game at least sometimes in our lives.

Hey ! Took you to the flashback.

No problem this is the essence and the beauty of the fine memories that keeps coming back every now and then.

About the game

The game of Kabaddi, also known as the ‘game of struggle’, requires two teams of seven players each, where the raider of one team charges himself in the court of opponent team in order to touch and out as many opponents as possible, while the opposing team try to catch the raider before he returns to the home court. The players who charges themselves in the court of opponent team are known as the ‘raider’, while, the players on defensive team are called ‘antis’. The raider has to continue chanting Kabaddi! Kabaddi! Kabaddi! the moment he enters the opponent court. If the raider gets succeeded in touching as many opponent players and returning to the home court without getting caught in a single breath, he earns score points for his team. This combative sport is played for a period of 45 minutes including a five-minute break. 

Pre-existence

According to the Hindu mythology, Kabaddi is played since the pre-historic times. The great Indian epic, Mahabharata proves its pre-existence, where Arjuna had always entered the enemies court, destroyed them all and returned backed unharmed. Moreover, Gautam Buddha preferred playing Kabaddi, as it helped him in exhibiting his strength. Kabaddi has been proved a very famous sport since ancient times, as it helped to develop self-defensive skills and quick responsiveness to attacks. 

The modern game of Kabaddi

The first-ever framework of rules in the game of Kabaddi was prepared in Maharashtra in the year 1921. However, the rules framed were amended in the year 1923 and applied during the All India Kabaddi Tournament in the same year. From 1930 onwards, the modern game of Kabaddi was played in all over India and in some parts of South Asia. As the years passed, significant changes in the game were made such as the introduction of mats, shoes, new techniques and changes in rules, which took the game to another great level and made it more interesting for the players itself.

Alas! if I get a chance to play it again.